Winding machine



June 5, 1945.

' W. L. PERRY ETAL WINDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed larch 31, 1941 June 5, 1945.

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June 5, 1945. w. L. PERRY '5! AL WINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheei 3 Filed March 31, 1941 w. L. PERRY ETAL 2,377,367

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June 5, 1945. w. L. PERRY ETAL WINDING MACHINE Fiied March 31, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 III.

June 5, 1945.

W. L. PERRY ET AL WINDIING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1941 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 5, 1945.

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June 5, 1945.

W. L. PERRY ETAL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 51, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 June 5, 1945. w PERRY ETAL 2,377,367

WINDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet l3 I'll/ ala);- Waltz-M5022 13 977' 7 Filed March 31, 1941 51 L m w mNV WW m3 Raw 92w AN 3m 06 m6% WINDING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1941 HHUIHHUUU i y fif 0 HHHHHIHIID fnvjfini'ar's W M550 5 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 errz Patented June 5, 1945 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICER,

WINDING MACHINE Winthrop L. Perry and Edward J. Abbott, Wilton,

N. H., assignors to Abbott Machine Company, I Wilton, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application-March 31, 1941, Serial No. 386,136

44 Claims.

This invention relates to textile machines and is especially applicable to winding machines of the type covered by United States Patent No. 2,160,810. Among the several objects of invention are to improve such machines in regard to the taking and supplying of fresh bobbin to be wound; to provide improved constructions for the electric connections and controls; to provide improved forms of traversing thread guide mechanism adapted for automatic control; to provide improved mechanism for imparting the desired reciprocating movement to the thread guide; to provide improved mechanism for manipulating the bobbin-holding centers, thread guide and other parts of the winding unit in the automatic changing ofthe winding bobbin; to provide for segregating the wound products of selected ones or groups of the winding units, and to provide improved mechanism for winding a bunch or similar reserve of yarn atthe beginning of winding of a bobbin. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from this specification and its drawings wherein the invention is explained by way of example by reference to two embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the right hand portion of a machine according to the present invention with all of the winding units except one omitted and certain other parts omitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the left hand portion of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a larger scale showing the reel for the electric conductors which carry current to the travelling winding units;

Fig. 4 is a left end elevation of the mach ne of Fig. 1 showing one of the winding units in side v1ew;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the upper portion of the travelling winding unit of Fig. 4 to a larger scale; 7

Fig. 6 is a front view of the upper portion of the winding unit of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a plan viewto a slightly smaller scale of the winding unit of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a detail view taken on the line F -l of Fig. '7;

Fig. '7 is a bottom view of the cover of the cam mechanism of Fig. 7 and a portion of the traverse bar.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7, showing the thread guide assembly;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bobbin hopper, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2 and showing the vertically-movable plates of the bobbin hopper in end elevation;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the pair of verticallymovable plates of the bobbin-hopper;

' Fig. 11 is a detaiL'in horizontal section on the line IIH of Fig. 1 showing one of the guides for the vertically-movable plates of the bobbin hopper;

Fig 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the yam-cutting scissors; I

Figs. 13 tov 23' illustrate a modified form; of machine many of the parts of which are similar to that of Figs. lto 12;

Fig. 13 is a vertical-sectional .view through a winding machine of the {general type shown in Figs. 1 to 12, showing in elevation a modified form of bobbin hopper, bobbin magazine aridzmechanism for delivering bobbins from'the hopper to the magazine;

Fig, 14 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a plan showing a portion of the track, bobbin hopper, bobbin-feeding mechanism, and certain actuating mechanism of the modified formof themachine;

Fig. 15 i a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the upper portions of the travelling unit of the modified form of machine and a portionof the :bobbin feeding mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 6 comprising a front view of the upper portion'of the Winding unit of the modified form of machine;

. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view taken from the rear of Fig. 16 showing brush-actuatingmechanism for the modified form-of machine;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. '7 comprising a plan view of a winding unit of the modified form of machine; I

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a yarn-guiding cam-like plow plate and cutting element of the unit of Fig. 18;

Fig. 19 is averticalsectional view on the line l9l9 ofFig. 18; i r

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional 202ll of Fig. 19; I

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic viewtaken from the point of view ofFig; 13 but to a largers'cale and with parts of the passing winding unit omitted, and showing the manner of delivery of empty bobbins to the travelling winding units;- Fig. 22 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 2222 of Fig. 21; and

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 23-23 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 24 is a diagrammatic plan view of, the thread-guide assembly of the device of Figs. .1

View on the line to 12 in the act of winding a reserve bunch, and Fig. is a diagrammatic view of a bobbin with the bunch wound thereon;

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 24 of the threadguide assembly of the device of Figs. 13 to 23 in the act of winding a reserve bunch, and Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic View of a bobbin with the bunch wound thereon by the device of Fig. 26.

As in Patent No. 2,160,810, a suitable guideway for the travelling units of the machine may be comprised of upper and lower rails I I and I2 each disposed in opposite straight and semi-circular runs (Fig. 2) and supported by any suitable transverse frame sections I3 and longitudinal end frame sections I4 (Fig. 1). Likewise as in Patent No. 2,160,810 a suitable means for conveying the travelling units around the machine may comprise an endless chain I4 running on sprocket wheels I5 at opposite ends of the machine, the

sprocket wheel I5 which is shown in Fig. 1 being driven through suitable connections from an electric motor 20.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 8, the head portion of a winding unit may for example comprise a frame element extending as shown in Figs. 6 and '7 generally lengthwise of the upper rail II and carrying suitable rollers 4|, 42, 43, 43 and 44, 44 adapted to guide the unitalong this upper rail. A generally vertical frame element extending from the upper frame element 40 down to the lower rail I2 carries a suitable support 52 for the unwinding supply package 53 and a suitable support 56 for the guide wires 51 and tension device 58 which may for example be constructed as shown in Patent No. 1,965,363, dated July 3, 1934.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7, a hollow driving head 60 adapted to receive the base of the winding bobbin and having a serrated rim SI is driven through a shaft 62 from an electric motor indicated generally at 63. A reciprocating traverse bar 06 is driven with a short stroke of traverse (considerably less in length than the final length of the wound bobbin) through cam mechanism also operated by the motor 63. As shown in Fig.

ward the base of the bobbin. For example, the .5

speed of the traverse bar on its outgoing stroke may be such that the winding bobbin makes ten revolutions during the outgoingstroke of traverse. and on its return stroke the winding bobbin makes twenty revolutions. Moreover, the shapes of the two heart-shaped portions of the cam are preferably such as to provide avaria'tion in length of traverse stroke of the traverse bar. As shown in the preferred form of cam this variation in length of stroke takes place with each stroke thus insuring that the end of no stroke of traverse will exactly coincide with the next previous similarly directed stroke. Thus in the preferred machine the traverse bar moves through a cycle of traverse as follows: from base toward tip of bobbin, l% inches; from tip toward base of bobbin, 1 /2 inches; from base toward tip of bobbin, 1% inches; from tip toward base of bobbin 1 inches. Obviously these figures are merely illustrative of a sequence of traverse strokes adapted to avoid lib coincidence of the end of one stroke with the end of the next previous similarly directed stroke. A link pivotally mounted at 8I carries a cam follower 83 riding in the groove I4, and serving to oscillate this link 80. A slot 88 in the link receives a follower carried by the traverse bar 66, thus transmitting the desired reciprocating motion to the traverse bar.

Preferably the cam I2, worm I0, and shaft 62 are mounted in a casing 90 secured to the frame element 40, this casing having integral therewith a cup-shaped portion 90 surrounding and holdingone end of the motor 83. The traverse bar 66 extends into the casing 90 through a slot 92 (Figs. 7 and 7 The upper portion of the easing 90 over the cam I2 is covered by a detachable cover plate 90 into which the pivot 8| fits, the cover plate 90 constituting a guiding surface for the transverse bar 66 as shown in Figs. '7 and 7 The tip end of the winding bobbin is held during the winding in a hollow center I00 which is rotatably mounted in a tail stock IOI. Tail stock IN is carried by a rod I02 (Fig. 5) which is slidably mounted in a sleeve I03 projecting from the frame element 40, rod I02 being provided with a flange I04 adapted to prevent its rotation in sleeve I03. Rod I02 extends through the opposite side of the frame element 40 and there is acted upon by a spring I05 so as to urge the tail stock IOI toward the left in Figs. 3 and 7 and normally retain the winding bobbin between the centers 60and I00. A reduced diameter portion IN on the inner end of rod I02 is adapted to be operated on by a stationary cam H0 to force the tail stock IOI outwardly away from the winding bobbin thereby to discharge the bobbin from winding position when this cam surface H0 is encountered, as more fully'described below.

On the traverse bar 66 there is loosely mounted a bracket having opposite legs H4 and H5 slidable on the traverse bar and connected by a portion II6 parallel with thetraverse bar. The inner end of this bracket is provided with a flattened extension II'I slidably resting on a shelf-- like support I20.

The lectric motor 63 is controlled through a mercury switch I30 which is secured at the under side of a generally U-shaped piece I3I which is v pivotally mounted at I32. Referring to Fig. '7, a latch I35, pivotally connected to one leg of the U-shaped piece ISI, normally overlies the extension III from the bracket IIB'so that in normal running the mercury switchis retained closed. Shifting of the bracket Hi to the right in Fig. 7 (which will result either from breakage of the yarn or completion of the package as explained below) removes the extension In from beneath the latch I35 and allows the mercury switch-to drop and open. In addition to controlling this mercury switch the bracket I I6 serves as a guide for the traversing thread guide as will now be explained.

The thread guide assembly includes a p ate I40 shown especially in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. A threadguide arm I44 is pivotally mounted on the under side of the plate I40 at, HI and extends over across the winding package to the opposite side thereof. At this extremity, the thread guide arm I44 carries an eye I45. The yarn running upwardly from the yarn detector I46 (described below) runs upwardly through this eye I45, thence over the arm I44 to another eye I 49 thence downwardly onto the winding package. A yoke I50, of which the opposite vertical legs I 5| have a'loose fit on the traverse rod 66, underlies the plate I40 and thread guide arm I44, and. is bolted to the plate I40.

Yoke I50 carries an integral extension I53 which rides upon the longitudinal bracket portion IIS and holds the thread guide against turning around the traverse rod 66. A second yoke I54 within the yoke I50 and also having a loose fit on the traverse rod 66, has one arm I55 which extends out over the winding package constituting a portion I51 rides easily over them while the thread guide is moving outwardly away from the base of the bobbin, but such as to catch and hold the downturned edge portion I51 when it is pressed against the teeth during motion of the thread guide toward the base of the bobbin. It

will be understood that the downturned edge portion I51 can ride over the teeth without engaging them, and that it does so until the feeler I55 rises in response to contact with the yarn on the bobbin. Thereupon the downturned edge P rtion I51 catches against one of the teeth I6I and detains the thread guide assembly against moving farther toward the base of the bobbin. The effect of this is to allow the reciprocating traverse rod 66 to slip with respect to the thread guide assembly until the traverse rod reaches the inner end of its stroke and reverses direction whereupon the downturned edge portion I51 disengages the teeth and the traverse assembly resumes its reciprocating motion. By this means the traverse assembly is advanced axially with respect to the traverse rod 56 in accordance with the growth of the package.

The blade-like element I60 carrying the teeth I6I is also adapted to serve as a forming plate to control the shape of the bobbin wound. Thus where it is desired that the thickness of winding on the bobbin should increase for a distance in leaving the base of the bobbin and then remain at a constant thickness, the blade-like element I90 may be relatively high opposite to the base portion of the bobbin and, as shown in Fig. 5, progressively decrease in height during the zone in which the thickness of the bobbin increases,-

.shift the eye I49 thereof to and beyond the plane ofthe serrated edge SI of the hollow center 60.

vSuch cam means are shown in Fig. 2 at I10. A

horizontal angle I12 secured to the underside of the lower rail I2 supports a vertical angle I13 carrying-a horizontal strip I14 to which is se- .cured. the cam strip I of appropriate shape to engage the roller W5 and shift the traversing arm to and beyond the plane of the serrated edge SI of the hollow center 50.

On its way from the guide wires 51 (Fig. 4) to the traversing thread guide the yarn Y runs through the hooked end of the yarn detector I46 retaining this in the position of Fig. 5. The yarn detector consists essentially of a wire of bell crank shapepivotally mounted at I 15 on the upper side of the sleeve I03.v An upturned. arm I11 0! the bell crank is adapted to engage'a collar I18 on a rod; I19 which connects the two legs H4 and H5 of the bracket IIB. In case the yarn breaks and the detector I46 accordingly drops, its upturned extension I11 shifts the rod I19 and the bracket IIB to the right in Figs. 5 and '7 in opposition to a spring I 80, causing the extension II1 to be withdrawn from under the latch I35 (Fig. '1) and thereby causing the mercury switch I30 to open and stop the motor 53. I r

The motor is stopped in a similar manner in case the bobbin becomes full by the thread-guide assembly striking the right hand leg II5 of the bracket H6 and shifting it to the right. Or, if desired, a further collar (not shown) similar to collar I18 may be adjustably clamped atthe appropriate place on rod I19 and provided with-a part adapted to extend into the path of the thread guide assembly so as to shift the, rod I19 and bracket H6 and. stop the motor whenever the thread-guide assembly attains a predetermined place in its outward travel.

The lower portion of the head of the winding machine is preferably provided with a chute 200 adapted to receive the full bobbin discharged from between the centers and I00 and having a rounded bottom which as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 slopes downwardly toward the outer side ,of the winding unit. In order to detain the bobbin thus discharged the chute is provided with a door 20I at its larger end as shown in Fig.6. A finger 205 may be adjusted vertically on the hinge pin 204 of the door 20I by being engaged in any one of several holes 206 of the door. This finger then is adapted to be struck and detained by a pin 201 (Fig. 4) appropriately positioned adjacent tothe path of travel of the winding units. A number of receptacles 208 are preferably provided to receive bobbins discharged from the several units. Adjacent each one of these receptacles there is preferably provided an upright 209 having holes 2I0 for the reception of such a pin 201. Pins 201 are then located at different levels on the uprights 209 corresponding to the different receptacles 208 and as each such pin 201 encounters a finger 205 at the appropriate level on the door of the traveling unit, such door is then caused to open and discharge its bobbin from its chute into the corresponding receptacle 208. Thus by locating the fingers 205 of various ones of the traveling units at'diflerent levels and by providing appropriately located pins 201, the products of the various groups of winding units can bekept separate.

For example, all those units winding a certain color of yarn can be causedto discharge into the same receptacle 208. 1

Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 9, the machine includes an elevated hopper 290 adapted to hold a large number of empty bobbins which can be dumped into the hopper indiscriminately. As shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the bottom of the hopper slopes downwardly to form a central trough. Mounted for vertical movement-up through the bottom of the trough are a pair of plates 292-, 292 held apart by suitable spacer elements 293- a dis- .tance such that these plates 292, 292 can receive between them the body portions of bobbins (exclusive of the heads), the spacer elements293 terminating far enough below the upper edges'of plates 292 to permit the retained bobbins to clear the spacer elements. The bobbin-taking element comprised of the plates 292, 292 and spacer elements thus may be said to present a recessed face to the mass of bobbins in the hopper. As shown in Fig. 4 where the plates 292, 292 have reached their uppermost position these plates then project somewhat above the top of the bobbin-holding space of the hopper 290. The upper edges of the plates 292, 292 slope downwardly toward the winding units of the machine, enabling empty bobbins, held by their heads between the plates 292, 292, to slide downwardly off the plates 292, 292 through a suitable slot in the left side of the hopper as shown in Fig. 4 and onto suitably positioned stationary guide rods 296, which form part of a'bobbin magazine adapted to supply bobbins to the winding units in substantially the manner described in Patent No. 2,100,810. I

The plates 292, 292 which may carry rollers 294, which run in channels 295 located at opposite sides of the hopper, are lowered so that their upper edges lie below some or all of the mass of empty bobbins in the hopper'290, then rise carrying with them some of the empty bobbins of which the body portions have dropped down in between the plates 292, 292. Practically every time the plates 292, 292 rise they thus carry with them one or several bobbins taken from the mixed-up mass of bobbins in the hopper and nowarranged hanging vertically, suspended by their heads in position for delivery to the magazine,

For raising and lowering the plates 292, 292 which may be suitably counterbalanced by a suitable weight not shown) there maybe provided an electric motor (not shown) connected by a belt 300 to a reduction gear unit 30I which through a worm 302 and worm wheel 303 drives a sprocket 304 and chain 305. A link 30! pivotally mounted at 308 on the plates 292, 292 is also pivotally connected at 309 to the chain 305 so as to follow the upward and downward movement of a link of the chain and raise and lower the plates 292, 292

accordingly.

With the traveling units of the machine running in the direction of the arrow X of Fig. 2 each winding unit will either have completed the winding of its package or the yarn will have broken by' the time the winding unit reaches the cams H and I10. The speed of travel of the winding units along the machineis such that there will be time for each winding unit to complete the winding of a package in somewhat, less than the full time required to travel around the machine. As explained above, completion of the package results in the traverse assembly forcing the bracket I I6 and its extension I IT to the right in Figs. and 7, allowing the mercury switch I30 to open and stop winding. Likewise breakage of the yarn before stoppage of winding operates through the feeler I46 (Fig. 5) to force the rod I19 and bracket II 6 to the right and open the mercury switch in the same manner.

With the winding unit thus inactive the stationary cam I I0 acts on the projection I01 of the rod I02, forcing the tail stock IOI outwardly and discharging the wound package into the chute 200. Almost at once the roller I65 on the thread guide assembly strikes the stationary cam I I0 and is moved by it to the left in Figs. 5 and 7. During the first part of this movement of the roller I65 the traversing arm I44 is shifted to the left about its pivot I4I and during the remainder of this movement the thread guide assembly is moved to the left carrying the yarn eye I49 to and beyond the vertical plane of the hollow head Pivoted in a sleeve 340 on one flange I5I of the yoke I50 of the thread guide assembly is a double crank, the upper arm I of which extends into a cam slot 342 on the thread guide arm and the lower arm 343 of which lies below the level of a bobbin in winding position and carries a hook 344 at its outer end. A spring 345 reacts on the double crank to keep it normally in the position of Figs. 5 and 7. Swinging of the thread guide arm I44 to the left in opposition to the spring 345 turns the double crank and causes its hook 344 to swing and engage the run of yarn extending down from the eye I49 to the discharged bobbin in the chute 200. This swinging movement of the hook and the shifting movement of the thread guide assembl to the left causes this hook to carry the yarn over to and slightly beyond the plane of the hollow head 60.

Held in position across the hollow head 90 by the eye I49 above the head and by the hook 344 below the head, the yarn is then ready to be engaged by a new bobbin.

At this point the traveling winding unit has reached the magazine I I2. Then due to the termination of the cam surface IIOa (Fig. 2) the tail stock IOI is allowed to move inwardly and the hollow center I00 grasps the small end of a bobbin in the magazine I I2 forcing the outer end of the bobbin against the thread held across the hollow center 60, as explained in Patent No. 2,160,810.

At this point the yarn extending from the hollow center 60 down to the discharged bobbin in the chute 200 is engaged by a scissors knife 350 (Fig. 1) which as shown in detail in Fig. 12 is pivotally mounted at 35I, is normally held open by a spring 352 and carries an extension 353 which is actuated by the passing winding unit to cut the yarn. Soon after the cutting of the yarn, winding is started on the unit. The extension III being in its restored position of Fig. 7 but the latch I35 being now below instead of above the extension N1, the mercury switch I30 is tilted to a closed position by contact of the arm I3I (Fig. 6) with a pin 355 (Fig. l). The pivoted latch I35 is thereby raised up above the extension II I, latching the switch closed until either the yarn breaks or the next package is completed.

At the outset of the winding it is desirable to wind a starting bunch near the head end of the bobbin. In the illustrated machine this is accomplished in an improved manner by continuing thecam I10 beyond the magazine with a surface I'I0a so positioned as to allow the roller I to move somewhat toward the tip of the bobbin from its extreme position during the transfer of the bobbins. The surface I10a, which is continued for a distance corresponding to the amount of yarn that is to be wound in the bunch, temporarily detains this roller I65 against partaking of the full stroke of traverse of the traverse rod, as shown in Figs. 24 and 25. Operation of the traverse assembly including the plate I40 imparts an oscillating movement to the thread guide arm .I44'about this roller I05 thus providing a short stroke of traverse appropriate to wind a narrow bunch of yarn near the base of the bobbin. When the end of the cam surface I'I0a'is reached, normal reciprocating movement of the thread guide arm i resumed.

It will be understood that the machine may have any desired number of travelling units, for example twenty, all conveyed around the machine by the chain I4. The units are preferably connected electrically by conductor wires 250 and dotted line position through the lower dotted. line.

251 which travel around the machine ina loop with the several units. Referring to Fig. 2, on a given unit an electrical circuit is established between the wire 251, the mercury switch 130, the motor 63 and back to the wire 250.

. A reel 255 centrally located in the machine and one or more double conductor wires 25'! extending from the reel to the travelling wires 250 and 251 serve to transmit current to these travelling wires and the several units. As shown in Fig. 3, the reel is mounted on a hollow shaft 258 which turns insuitable ball bearings 259 and 260 in cross members of the frame. The reel as a whole is thus enabled to turn with the one or more double wires 25'! that connect it to the travelling wires 250 and 251. -A casing 260 for the reel turns with the hollow shaft 258 and is provided with one or more openings 261 for the one or more double wires 251. A drum 263 rotatably mounted in ball bearings 264, and 265 on the hollow shaft 258 is adapted to wind up the wires 25'! under a light tension induced by a spiral spring 266 which is connected to the casing and to the drum, the spring and drum permitting the wires 251 to be payed out as necessary to allow the wires 25'! to accompany their points of attachment to the travelling wires 250 and 251., The wires 25'! at their ends which are fastened to the drum 263 are connected to slip rings 210 and 211 which receive current from stationary brushes. 2'12 and 2'13 connected to a suitable source of current.

In the modification of Figs. 13 to 23, many parts of the machine are similar to those of the machine of Figs. 1 to 12, and hence will not be further described but merely designated by the same reference characters.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, the bobbin hopper 290 in this machine is located symmetrically of the long axis of the machine, between the opposite straight portions of track. An inclined slide in the form of spaced bars 400 i adapted to receive the bobbins which slide off the inclined upper edges of the plates 292, 292, and guide them to a position over the place of supplying the bobhins to the travelling units,

As shown in Fig. 21, the bobbins, hanging by their enlarged ends from the inclined bars 400, are detained by fingers 401 and 402 mounted on a shaft 403, the fingers being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the thickness of the enlarged base of a bobbin and being disposed at an angle to each other on shaft 403 in such relation that rotation of shaft 403 which moves finger 401 out of its bobbin-supporting position, also moves the other finger 402 into its bobbin-supporting position.

Rotation of the shaft 403 by a crank arm 404, rod 405 and crank 406 when the crank 406 is engaged by a pin 40! on a passing winding unit results in finger 401 turning with shaft 403' so as to move out of contact with the endmost bobbin and thereby releasing it (the other bobbins on the bars 400 then being retained by the finger 402 which is rotated by shaft 403 o as to move in to support these other bobbins). One bobbin is thus allowed to slide off the ends of bars 400. When the shaft subsequently returns to its normal position, finger 402 is thereby turned to a position to release the bobbins and allow the stack to be retained by the finger 401.

A pair of plates 409, spaced apart to receive the body portion of a bobbin between them then receive the bobbin discharged by the finger 401, allowing the enlarged base portion of the bobbin to slide downto the left in Fig. 21 from the upper position.

Fingers 412, 412, and 413, 413, on shafts 41.6 and 411 respectively, are positioned to retain the bobbin in a horizontal position at a level to be received by the centers 60 and of a passing winding unit. As will be seen in Fig. 21, a bobbin sliding down the inclined edges of plates 409 has its tip end portion detained by the right hand set of fingers, and is thereby deflected and turned to its final horizontal position. The left hand set of fingers are located so as to engage the bobbin near its enlarged base end, thereby insuring that this end of the bobbin will be far enough to the left in Fig. 21.

Referring to Figs. 16 and 18, the travelling winding unit is provided with a vertically disposed plate 420 of which the main portion lies in a plane close to the plane of the face of the hollow center 60. This plate 420 reaches the bobbin retaining means 412, 413 before the center 60, in time to check the movement to the left of a bobbin being delivered to the fingers 412, 413 in Fig. 21. Thus this plate 420, acting in conjunction with the left set of fingers of Fig. 21, positions the new bobbin axially as well as vertically for reception by the bobbin holding centers of the travelling unit.

Shafts 416 and 411 which carry the fingers 412, 412 and 443, 413, also carry levers 430 and 431 which are yieldingly connected by a spring 432, and these levers and the fingers are 'normally held in the full-line position-of Fig.22 by a further spring 434. When a bobbin, after being grasped by the centers 60 and 100 of a winding unit is carried in the direction of the arrow X of Fig. 22, the fingers 412 are swung by the bobbin to the dotted line position of Fig. 22, the fingers 413 allowing the bobbin to pass out from between both sets of fingers. In the swinging of fingers 412, fingers413 are carried to their. dotted line position of Fig. 22, due to the spring connection between levers 430 and 431, and in their dotted line position allow the winding unit to pass.

without interference.

-The modification of Figs. 13 to 23 shows an improved, arrangement of stationary conductor rails for carrying current to the motors of the travelling units. Referring to Figsi l and 15, three vertically arranged conductor rails 440, 441 and 442 are provided, spaced from each other and from the rail 1 1 by short pieces of insulating material, with the upper edges of these conductor rails slightly below the top, of rail 11. Brackets 445, screwed to rail 11 at intervals along, the machine, clamp the conductor rails and pieces of insulatingmaterial firmly in place. In between the brackets 445 the spaces between the vertically disposed rails are open, which has the advantage that fly and waste can drop down past the rails,-

leaving their top surfacesfree. ,Moreover, the. vertical arrangement ofthe rails side by side around the track of the machine has the advantages that the fiat rails may readily be bent to the required shape, and when in place, are readily accessible for connection to. the current supply.

On each travelling unit, a set of three brushes 4511, adapted to contact with the respective conductor rails are vertically slidable in a suitable frame451 of insulating material. Each brush 450 is connected at its top to a suitable binding post by a resilient wire 453 pasing through its top portion and urging the brush down into contact with its associated conductor rail. All three brushes maybe simultaneously, lifted by a horizontal pin 460 (of insulating material) carried by a boss 462 on an arm 46I of a bell crank 46I, 463, the pin engaging beneath the resilient wires 453 and being pressed upwardly by a coil spring 463a. The other arm 463 of the bell crank is normally latched behind the left end portion of a slidable rod 461 (Figs. 15, 16 and 18) this rod corresponding in its motor controlling functions to the longitudinally shiftable rod I19, bracket H6 and extension II1 of the machine of Figs. 1 to 12. Shifting of the rod 461 to the right in Figs. and 18 (either by the thread guide having progressed to the desired position corresponding to the completed filling-wound bobbin, or the winding unit being about to reach the bobbinchanging apparatus, both as described hereinafter) thus releases the crank arm 463, allowing the spring 463a to raise the brushes 450 off the conductor rails and stop the motor. At the position for starting winding, a stationary roller 4B0 (Figs. 14 and 17) engages the boss 462 (Fig. 15), restoring the bell crank 46I 463 to its normal position causing the brushes to make contact with their rails, and causing the upper arm 463 of the bell crank to become latched again behind the end portion of rod 461. I

As in the machine of Figures 13 to 23, the nontraveling mechanism for controlling the positions of thethread guides, opening andclosing the bobbin holding centers, controlling the winding of a starting or reserve bunch, and opening the bobbin chute doors, as well as certain other parts of the mechanism, are located on a stationary frame outside of the tracks II and I2. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, suitable uprights 410 carry a horizontal member 41I upon which the bobbin delivering plates 409, 409 are mounted, and also an angle piece 413 shaped as shown in Figure 14 and having with the angle pieces 413a and SI I the general function of the strip I10 of Figure 2; that is, to shift the traversing thread guide to starting position and subsequently control the position of the thread guide in the winding of the starting bunch.

Referring to Figures 18, 19, and 20, the thread guide assembly includes an upper yoke 480 and a lower yoke 48I, the legs of each of these yokes loosely engaging the traverse rod 66. A block of friction material, such as cork 483, out out to fit the round traverse rod- 66 occupies thespace above the traverse rod and within the upper portion of the upper yoke 480, and is pressed yieldingly against the traverse'rod 66 by a spring 485 contained in the upper yoke 480 By thismeans, the traverse assembly frictionally grips the traverse rod 66, but may be advanced relatively to the traverse rod. The upper yoke 480 carries the thread guide arm I44, which in this instance is not pivotally connected thereto, and the lower -yoke 48I carries the combined yarn feeler I55 and arm I56 which carries the down-turned edge portion I51. As in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 12, when the yarn feeler I55 contacts with the yarn wound on the bobbin and is consequently forced away from the axis of the bobbin, the element I55, I56 is tilted aboutthe traverse rod 66, and the down-turned edge portion I51 brought into contact with one of theteeth I6I of the blade-like element I60. The thread guide assembly is then detained against further movement toward the left in Figure 8, the cork 483 allows the traverse rod 66 to move relative to the thread guide assembly, and the thread guide assembly is thus advanced axially with respect to the traverse rod. Any suitablespring means may be employed to control the pivotally mounted member I55, I56. For instance, a light spring 490 mounted on the thread guide arm I44 may be employed to urge the element I55, I56 in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 19.

A down-turned extension 492 on the thread guide arm, offset somewhat too the right from the eye I49, is adapted to engage an adjustable collar 493 on the rod 461, and when the package attains the desired length, will shift this collar and rod somewhat to the right and thereby unlatch the crank arm 463, thereby causing the motor to be de-energized, as spring 499 (Fig. 15) acts on the right-hand end of rod 461 to restore it to the left into latching position.

In normal operation, the package will have been completed and the rod 461 will have been tripped to de-energize the motor by the time the traveling unit reaches the bobbin changing apparatus of Figure 14. However, to insure that no winding unit reaches this apparatus with its motor running, a stationary cam 500 (Figs. 14 and 15) is provided in position to engage and shift the collar 493 to the right in Figure 15 to trip the rod 461 and stop the motor.

In the embodiment of Figures 13 to 23, the outer center I00 is mounted on a plunger I091! which is slidable in an out-board bracket I00b, this bracket being fixedly secured to a horizontal bar I000 rigid with the frame 40 of the winding unit. The outer center I00 is mounted on a plunger I00a which is slidable in and out of the stationary bracket I00b, is normally forced against the winding bobbin by a spring (not shown) in the bracket I00b, and may be retracted by a bell crank I00d of which one arm engages the plunger I00a within the bracket. When the winding unit reaches the bobbin changing apparatus shown in Figure 14, the outstanding arm of the bell crank I00d engages a stationary angle piece 590, and is moved thereby into the dotted line position of Figure 18, releasing the bobbin. At the right-hand end of the angle piece 590, the bell crank I00d is released, and the plunger I00a and center I00 return to their positions of Figure 18, thus to engage the bobbin held by the fingers H2, H2 and M3, 3.

Referring to Figures 14 and 23, a stationary bracket 592 located near the beginning of angle bar 590 carries a'pivotally mounted finger 593 normally hanging downwardly in the path of the tip portion of a bobbin carried by the approaching traveling winding unit. A bent tail portion 593a on the finger 593 is adapted to seat slidingly on top of the bar I00c of the traveling unit, thereby preventing the finger 593 from being swung upwardly past the dotted line position of Figure 23. Thus when the tip portion of a bobbin indicated at B in Fig. 23 encounters the finger 593, the finger is free to be turned to the dotted line position where it is then looked and forces the bobbin downwardly, thus insuring that when the center I00 opens, the bobbin will not be held in winding position by the yarn or the friction of the base center 60.

Upon encountering the angle bar 590 and finger 592 and having its full bobbin discharged into its chute 200, the winding unit has its traverse assembly shifted to the left in Figures 15 and 18 to carry the thread guide eye I49 beyond the vertical plane of the base center 60, this being accomplished by the cam-shaped angle 413 (Figs. 14 and 15) which engages with the roller I on the thread guide assembly. The run of yarn extending downwardly from the eye 

